YMCA Healthy Kids Day Saturday

On Saturday, the YMCA in Greenfield will celebrate YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day with a free community event that encourages children ages 6 to 12 in Franklin County to get moving and learning.

The Y’s national initiative to improve families’ health and well-being, takes place at 1,900 Ys and kick-starts healthier behaviors now and throughout the summer, a critical out-of-school time for children’s health.

The event takes place from 2:45 to 6 p.m. and features the climbing wall, gym games, Kid-Fit workouts, cardio dancing and Game Room play. All participants will receive a goodie bag and can register to win a week of Y Summer Camp.

Dave Garapollo, Y youth and family director, said “Doctors recommend that children get 60 minutes of physical activity each day in order to be healthy and maintain a healthy weight. According to a recent Family Health Snapshot survey only 19 percent of children in the United States are getting their 60 minutes per day. At our YMCA, physical fitness is the foundation of our youth programs. Y kids can be active swimming, playing sports, doing gymnastics, exercising in our Kid-Fit Center or go to our many summer camps. Our Afterschool Child Care Program provides every participant with their 60 minutes of activity every day along with homework help and Game Room play and crafts.”

Garapollo added, “Because most children lose reading ability over the summer, this year, we will have a certified reading teacher on our staff at Camp Apex to help children maintain or improve their reading skills. The camp counselors will also be reading chapter books during quiet times throughout the day to enhance children’s love of reading.”

Executive Director Bob Sunderland added “Research shows that without access to out-of-school physical and learning activities, kids fall behind academically and gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year.”

Parents may sign their children in between 2:30 and 3 p.m. in the Y’s gym and pick them up at 6 p.m.